(The Associated Press circulated the following story on July 23.)
NEMOURS, W.Va. — Officials were trying to determine Wednesday what caused three unmanned locomotives to dart along seven miles of track in Nemours, West Virginia, before spilling more than 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel as it was derailed.
Norfolk Southern Corp. officials were notified of the out-of-control train at about 3 a.m. Tuesday heading north from Virginia. Company workers derailed it with an unspecified manual device, sending the fuel spilling across its right of way.
“We don’t know why they were able to run free,” Norfolk Southern spokeswoman Susan Bland said.
No injuries were reported, and no nearby structures were damaged.
Environmental and company officials worked through the day to contain the spill and said the nearby Bluestone River was not affected. Workers were removing and disposing of contaminated soil.
“It’s our understanding that it didn’t impact the waterway,” Bland said.
Nemours is located about 2 miles northeast of the Virginia border.